Bottle lock



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United States Patent 3,206,955 BOTTLE LOCK David M. Horovitz, Providence, R.I., assignor to Harwood Manufacturing Company, Providence, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Sept. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 310,748 9 Claims. (Cl. 70-163) The present invention relates to a bottle lock. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bottle lock that is adapted to be secured to the neck of a bottle for preventing unauthorized use of the contents in the bottle.

The present invention has particular application in the locking of glass bottles which contain alcoholic beverages or the like. Since bottles containing alcoholic beverages are sometimes ornamental and therefore desirable to display, it has been the custom to place such ornamental bottles on shelves or in exposed locations that are easily viewable. With the placing of such bottles in exposed locations, the problem of preventing unauthorized use of the contents in the bottles has resulted. Some efforts have been made heretofore to provide locking caps or the like for such bottles, but none of these heretofore known devices have been practical, and many of them have required the replacement of the bottle cap.

The present invention includes a bottle lock that is designed to be placed over the capped end of a bottle and in enveloping relation around the neck of the bottle. Since bottles normally include a flange that is spaced from the lip of the bottle, such a flange is utilized in the present invention to aid in locking the bottle lock in position. The bottle lock embodied herein includes a body portion in which an opening is formed, the opening receiving the capped end and neck of the bottle to be locked. Formed interiorly of the body portion of the bottle lock is an annular groove in which a pair of curved arms are pivotally mounted. When the body portion is placed on the bottle with the capped end and neck inserted within the opening of the body portion, the curved arms are located below the heretofore mentioned flange of the bottle. The arms are then locked in position by securing outer tabs formed as a part thereof and that extend outwardly of the body portion. The arms and the tabs joined to the arms may be adjustable to accommodate the various size necks of bottles, and the tabs are secured together by any convenient locking means, such as a small padlock.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bottle lock that is adapted to be secured to the neck of a bottle for preventing unauthorized use of the contents therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle lock for use on various size neck bottles.

Still another object is to provide a bottle lock that includes a body portion in which a pair of locking arms are pivotally mounted for engaging the neck of a bottle for locking the body portion on said bottle neck.

Still another object is to provide a bottle lock that is adapted to be secured to the neck of a bottle and that is provided with means for adjusting the locking elements of the bottle lock for accommodating various size bottles.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the instant invention:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the bottle lock embodied in the present invention and showing the bottle lock in the locked position thereof on a bottle, only a portion of which is illustrated;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the bottle lock illustrated in FIG. 1, the neck of the bottle on which the bottle lock is located being shown in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 in FIG. 2 and showing the position of the bottle lock for accommodating a bottle having a large size neck;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the position of the locking elements of the bottle lock for accommodating the neck of a medium size bottle;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 and showing the position of the locking elements of the bottle lock for accommodating a bottle having a small neck; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 showing the position of the locking elements of the bottle lock in the fully open position.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottle lock embodied in the present invention is generally indicated at 10 and, as shown, is mounted in locking position on a bottle generally indicated at 12. The bottle 12 is conventional in design and is of that type that is normally employed for containing alcoholic beverages or the like. As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the bottle 12 includes a body 14 which may be of any suitable design and that terminates at the upper end thereof in a neck 16. As is conventional in bottles of the type illustrated in FIG. 2, a flange 18 is formed on the neck 16 and is spaced from the outermost lip of the bottle. A cap 20 is shown secured in the neck of the bottle and is of conventional design.

The bottle lock 10 is designed to be placed in position on the neck 16 of the bottle 12 and in enveloping relation with respect to the capped end of the bottle. The bottle lock 10 is thus adapted to seal the capped end of the bottle 12 and thereby prevent unauthorized use of the contents therein. As shown in FIG. 2, the bottle lock 10 includes a generally cylindrical body portion 22 in which an opening 24 is formed that extends from the bottommost end thereof for a major portion of the length of the body portion. The opening 24 in the body portion 22 is shaped and proportioned for accommodating various size necks of bottles and thus may have a diameter that is somewhat larger than the diameter of the neck of a bottle received therein. Formed interiorly of the body portion 22 and adjacent the bottommost end thereof is an annular groove 26 that also communicates with the opening 24. Extending through the body portion 22 in aligned relation with respect to the annular groove 26 is a slot 28 that communicates with the annular groove 26 and the exterior of the body portion 22.

In order to provide for the locking of the body portion 22 on the neck 16 of the bottle 12, a pair of locking arms 30 and 32 are provided and, as shown in FIGS. 3 through 6, the arms are semicircular in configuration and are pivotally secured within the groove 26 at the innermost ends thereof by a pin 34. Joined to the outermost ends of the arms 30, 32, respectively, are tabs 36, 38 that project through the slot 28 in overlying relation with respect to each other and terminate exteriorly of the body portion 22. The tab 36 is formed with a pair of openings 40 and 42 therein adjacent the outermost edge thereof. The tab 38 is formed with similar openings 44 and 46 and, as will be described, the openings 40, 42 and 44, 46 are provided for adjusting .the arms 30 and 32 in the locked position thereof to accommodate the different size neck bottles.

The configuration of the locking arms 30 and 32 is such as to generally correspond to the curved configuration of the opening 24 when the arms 30, 32 are located in the fully open position thereof as shown in FIG. 6. In the fully open position, the bottle lock may be inserted in place over the capped end of the bottle 12 and in enveloping relation with respect to the neck 16. In order to lock the body portion 22 on the bottle 12, the tabs 36 and 38 are adjusted in accordance with the size of the neck 16 of the bottle so as to locate the locking arms 30, 32 beneath the flange 18 and in engagement with the neck 16. The tabs 36, 38 are thus adjusted by pivoting the locking arms 30, 32 about their pivot axis 34, the final position of the tabs 36, 38 being determined by the neck size of the bottle as indicated. Assuming that a bottle having a relatively large neck is to be locked, the tabs 36, 38 are adjusted to locate the locking arms 30, 32 in the position as shown in FIG. 3. In this position, the opening 42 in the tab 36 and the opening 44 in the tab 38 are aligned. The pivotal arm 48 of a padlock 50 is then inserted through the aligned openings 42, 44 to positively secure the tabs 36, 38 in the position shown in FIG. 3 and further lock the locking arms 30, 32 on the neck 16 of the bottle 12. Since the locking 30, 32 are secured in the locking position beneath the flange 18 of the neck 16, the capped end of the bottle 12 is sealed by the body portion 22, and access to .the interior of the bottle 12 is prevented.

Assuming next that a bottle having a medium size neck is to be locked, the tabs 36, 38 are adjusted until their openings are in alignment as illustrated in FIG. 4. In this position, the openings 40 and 44 are aligned, as well as the openings 42, 46. The curved locking arms 30, 32 have been moved inwardly a sufficient distance to engage the smaller neck of th ebottle in which the smaller neck is located, and the lock 50 is then inserted through one set of the aligned openings to secure the locking arms 30 and 32 in the locked position thereof.

Assuming now that a bottle having a small size neck is to be locked, then the tabs 36 and 38 are moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 5. In this position, the tabs have been moved in a direction toward each other and located such that the openings 40 and 46 are aligned. The locking arms 30 and 32 in the position shown in FIG. 5 are thus pivotally moved so as to further restrict the opening 24 and are located in engagement with the neck of the bottle to be locked. The arm 48 of the padlock 50 is inserted through the aligned openings 40 and 46 to secure the locking arms 30 and 32 in their restricted position as shown in FIG. 5.

The bottle lock embodied in the present invention is simple to use and may be employed with a variety of bottles having different size necks. Since the body portion 22 may be formed with the exterior thereof having any suitable ornamental configuration or indicia thereon, the bottle lock 10 may add to the ornamental features of the bottle 12 and thus will complement the appearance of the bottle when placed on display. By utilizing the bottle lock embodied in the present invention, unauthorized access to the interior of the bottle is prevented, and the bottle lock may be removed from the locked position or inserted thereon with a minimum of effort. The locking arms 30 and 32. insure that the bottle lock will be located in a positive locked position, and the pivotal arrangement thereof further provides for easy insertion of the bottle lock on bottles having different size necks.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bottle lock that is adapted to be secured to the neck of a bottle for preventing unauthorized use of the contents therein, a body portion having an opening formed therein that is closed at the upper end thereof, said opening slidably receiving the capped end and a portion of the neck of said bottle for the enclosing thereof by said body portion, an annular groove formed in said body portion interiorly thereof and adjacent the lowermost edge thereof, a slot extending through said body portion and communicating with said annular groove, a pair of locking elements, each of which is formed with a generally curved arm and a tab joined to said arm, the arm of each locking element being located in said groove in opposed relation to the other arm and being pivotally connected in said groove at the outermost end of the arm, wherein said arms are pivotally movable relative to each other, the tabs of said arms extending through said slot in overlapping relation and projecting outwardly of said body portion, spaced openings formed in each tab, each opening in a tab communicating with either of the openings in the other tab, the location of said arms as defined by the alignment of the openings in said overlapping tabs defining a locking position in accordance with the size of the bottle on which said bottle lock is located, said arms in the locking position restricting the open end of said opening in said body portion and being closely secured around the bottle neck, wherein said body portion is pre vented from movement outwardly of said bottle neck, and means extending through the aligned openings of said tabs for locking said tabs, thereby locking said body portion on the neck of said bottle. 7

2. In a bottle lock, a body portion having an opening extending therein from the bottommost end adjacent to and spaced from the topmost end, said opening receiving the capped end and neck of a bottle therein for enclosing said capped end and a portion of said neck, an annular groove formed in said body portion interiorly thereof and adjacent the bottommost end thereof, avslot extending through said body portion and communicating with said annular groove, a pair of locking elements, each of which includes a curved arm that is pivotally located in said groove in opposed relation to the curved arm of the other element, said curved arms generally following the contour of said opening and being pivotally movable to restrict the open end of said opening and for engaging the neck of said bottle in locking relation, a tab joined to each curved arm and projecting outwardly of said body portion through said slot, said tabs being located in overlying relation and each tab having at least one opening formed therein, said tabs being movable to align said openings, wherein said arms are pivoted to restrict the open end of the opening in said body portion so as to engage the neck of said bottle, and means extending through the aligned openings of said tabs for locking said tabs together, thereby locking said body portion on the neck of said bottle.

3. In a lock for a. bottle having a neck and a capped end, a body portion having an opening formed therein that is enclosed at the upper end thereof, said opening slidably receiving the capped end and a portion of the neck of said bottle in enclosed relation with respect thereto, a pair of curved arms located interiorly of said body portion and pivotally movable therein to restrict the open end of said opening so as to engage the neck of said bottle when the body portion is located on said neck, and means for locking said curved arms in the engaging position thereof.

4. In a lock for a bottle as set forth in claim 3, an annular groove formed interiorly of said body portion, said curved arms being pivotally located in said annular groove for movement therein.

5. In a lock for a bottle as set forth in claim 3, each of said curved arms including a tab in which at least one opening is formed, said tabs extending outwardly of said body portion in overlying relation, the locking position of said arms being defined by the alignment of the openings in said tabs, and said locking means extending through said aligned openings for locking said arms in the engaging position thereof.

6. In a lock for a bottle as set forth in claim 5, a slot formed in said body portion and communicating with said annular groove, said tabs projecting through said slot and outwardly of said body portion.

7. In a lock for a bottle as set forth in claim 5, each of said tabs including a pair of spaced openings, the alignment of both said openings in said tabs defining a first locking position for said arms for locking said body portion on a bottle having a medium size neck, the alignment of only one opening in each tab with one opening in the opposite tab when said tabs are moved in a direction away from each other defining a second locking position for said arms for locking said body portion on a bottle having a large size neck, and the alignment of only one opening in each tab when said tabs are moved in a direction toward each other defining a third locking position for said arms for locking said body portion on a bottle having a small size neck.

8. In a lock for a bottle having a neck and a capped end, a generally cylindrical body portion having a central opening formed therein that extends the major portion of the length of said body portion and is enclosed at the open end thereof, said opening slidably receiving the neck and a portion of the capped end of said bottle in en closed relation with respect thereto, a pair of arms pivotally mounted in said body portion for restrciting the open end of said opening and for engaging the neck of said bottle when the body portion is located on said neck, said arms including tabs that extend outwardly of said body portion, and means for locking said tabs in aligned relation to lock said arms in the restricted position thereof.

9. In a lock for a bottle as set forth in claim 8, said tabs including means for adjusting the locked position thereof to vary the position of said arms, wherein said body portion may be mounted on various size bottle necks in locking engagement therewith.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 695,656 3/02 Smalley 166 833,446 10/06 Degener. 2,785,564 3/57 Rossi 70-232 3,112,636 12/63 McIntyre 70-232 ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner. 

3. IN A LOCK FOR A BOTTLE HAVING A NECK AND A CAPPED END, A BODY PORTION HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THEREIN THAT IS ENCLOSED AT THE UPPER END THEREOF, SAID OPENING SLIDABLY RECEIVING THE CAPPED END AND A PORTION OF THE NECK OF SAID BOTTLE IN ENCLOSED RELATION WITH RESPECT THERETO, A PAIR OF CURVED ARMS LOCATED INTERIORLY OF SAID BODY PORTION AND PIVOTALLY MOVABLE THEREIN TO RESTIRCT THE OPEN END OF SAID OPENING SO AS TO ENGAGE THE NECK OF SAID BOTTLE WHEN THE BODY PORTION IS LOCATED ON SAIDNECK, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID CURVED ARMS IN THE ENGAGING POSITION THEREOF. 